Everything Is Up in the Air

Bernie Power on the stern atop scaffolding.

Bernie Power gets a birds eye view of the Essex Basin

Not a bad view, at all

Harold has to get a good look down before he starts drilling. Photo by Dan Tobyne

The stern post is now bolted since this photo was taken. Photo by Dan Tobyne.

Trying to keep up with the ongoing work on the Ardelle and at the time of writing the stern is bolted in tight. Today the gang are getting up another frame, with bulkhead and the propellor is in. Bernie Power was up high on some scaffolding he brought for Harold and his skills have been most welcome. Bernie is a retired building contractor who has worked in construction, carpentry and the trades throughout his career. He is originally from Prince Edward Island, Canada and has lived in the area for quite some time.

Now in his 70s, Bernie has told us that he likes to be busy, and he certainly has been working hard for us. Thank you so much Bernie. Next week he has a much deserved break with his family but he has certainly earned everyones repsect here in the short time he has volunteered here.

More Work on Stem and Stern

Wooden trunnels firms up the stern post.

Stern post is being set in place - for good!



This late afternnon shot is of sheer legs, stern post and tenon.






Harold and Chuck checking out the fit of the next piece

  Harold has spent a good deal of time on the stem and stern over this week and some of the pictures here by Dan Tobyne are spectacular. On Saturday, young Zach, Chuck and Harold had a long day but were able to beautifully attach critical pieces to the stern and secure the stern post. Prior to that, it was somewhat precariously held by a chain and sheer legs. At the moment, the author of this blog, is on a "hardship" assignment in Bermuda -(seriously - its a fun assignment) but thanks to Dan we can keep you updated on what is going on in the yard this week. Also, check out the website to see the continually updated photographs of the Ardelle in progress.

Log Splitting for the Stem

Harold is about to crack open the soon to be stem for the Ardelle

Crack!

Harold and Chuck made light work of this piece of oak

Beautifully cut...the oak did crackle once it was split

As Harold was leaning over the oak, the log was crackling back...the "tension in the wood" was letting go as it goes on to its next incarnation as the stem of the new schooner.

 Harold now has the stem for the Ardelle cut and work will begin to cut into shape. This was the second piece Harold cut as the first one he cut on the mill ended up having a defect. So, we had to find another one and this one looks good. The stem - like the stern post - is half submersed where the top is exposed to the air and sun and the bottom is in the water. For that reason, he tries to put the aboslute best wood he can find into these two pieces. A log this size is just too big for the mill and has to be split with a chainsaw and wedges and a sledgehammer. Our friends at Maynard Brothers in Michigan told us once when they get a log that is too big for the mill they use "black powder" where they drill a hole in the center of the log with a chainsaw curf on each end and a long fuse. This idea has greatly intrigued us especially halfway through the log...but we never dared try it for fear we would damage the wood or more likely ourselves in the process.

... A Boatbuilder is ...

Cutting the molds





The loft floor is always interesting!

A model of the Ardelle

Dan Tobyne has been photographing the yard and the interior of the barn and the loft floor. There is always something to shoot and here are some of his recent pictures.

Tracing the curves of the frame from mold to four inch oak

Stern Post Is Up and A Job Well Done




 

The tenon joint - part of the mortise and tenon joint - that fits the stern post to the keel



The tenon joint of the stern post fit perfectly into this  mortise. Nice job, Chuck!



The stern post is being moved into place using the sheer legs.






The mortise and tenon joint fits nicely.



It looks pretty cool!



With the stern post now in place, we wanted to take a moment to give a shout out to Chuck Redman.
... Just as we were finishing the lofting process back in July, Chuck called the boatyard to ask about a day charter on the Pinky Maine. But, he said, what he really wanted to do was talk to Harold. "You're talking to him," Harold said. As it turned out, Chuck had applied to boatbuilding school in Maine and had to let the school know by the end of the week if he was going to attend. He came by on his Harley motorcycle on a Sunday and talked to Harold. After that serendipitous visit, he called the school and said no thanks.

Chucks first job as apprentice here at the yard was to check our lofting, create a table of offsets, do a small scale drawing and make a half model of the Ardelle ... all of which he completed in his first two and a half weeks here. From there, he has gone on to making all the molds and putting the bevels on them. He has also helped build all of the frames and yesterday, using our sheer legs, we hoisted the massive stern post that he built and his mortise and tenon joint fit perfectly. Chuck comes from a lifetime in business, operating an international family-owned company, so we appreciate his incredible work ethic and abilities. His family and friends are great, too!

Chuck, Harold and Simon Koch use the sheer legs to move the stern post into place.

Great work, Chuck!

The Ongoing Tradition of the Photographer and the Boatyard

Dan Tobyne taking a photo of Chuck Redman working on the stern.

Dan is picured here assisting Harold at the bandsaw.

One of Dan's many excellent photos taken this past month

Throughout the years, the boatyards of Essex drew photographers to the yards where they became both part of the crew and in turn documented the work of building a wooden schooner. In the 1930s, the late John Clayton took pictures of the ongoing work at the Jake Story yard. In the 1990s, Lou Joceyln chronicled the building of Tom Ellis' schooner the Thomas E. Lannon. Lou was originally from Nova Scotia and had lots of stories to tell and kept the crew entertained. Last heard, Lou was traveling around the country in his RV with his lady friend. We miss him! The Fame was chronicled by cartoonist Michael Scagliotti, who is now an instructor at the Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco and captured through timed photography and turned into a film by cousin Steven Hastings.  Meanwhile, the Isabella was photographed in part by Chrissy Piper and Randy Robar with a film by Steve Hastings and so ... in keeping with that tradition we welcome Dan Tobyne of Hamilton.  Dan is a professional photographer and native New Englander who has been involved in photography for more than 40 years. Early in his career as a teacher of at-risk youth, he helped develop a wilderness education program that used photography as a behavior-modification tool.  His work is on display in public and private collections throughout New England and is featured in the books Boston's Emerald Necklace, Thoreau's Cape Cod and Thoreau's Maine Woods. He has been down here at the boatyard quite a lot since early August. His photographs are remarkable and we really appreciate his company!

Essex Massachusetts's Next Schooner's Frame Up

Thanks to Steve Borichevsky of Cape Ann for this great video. Check out his blog Shooting my Universe.

FRAME UP!

Shout is heard for FRAME UP!

First Frame Going up...

Frame is VERY heavy!

It was a great day in Essex and at the Burnham yard yesterday during the FRAME UP event . Many volunteers help to raise three frames with only about 22 frames more to go! But, the outpouring of interest and support was inspiring and many visitors had a chance to sign the keel and get up close and personal as they gathered in the barn to watch the men drive trunnels into the futtocks and haul the frame out to the resting keel. There are many people to thank but to name a few we would like to thank Chuck Redman,  his gal Patty, Andy Spinney, Pierre Erhard, Davis Griffith, Steve Willard, young Zack Teal and his cousin, Jeff Lane, Francis Cleary, Bill Cronin , Steven and Tom Hastings and the folks at Essex shipbuilding Museum and many others!. Great work everyone!

A view from the dock to the barn of the first frame

The crowd was great and three frames went up!

First Frame Comes out the Barn Door Getting Ready for Labor Day!

Getting ready for Frame Up the first frame comes out the barn door. The crew is working hard to get the futtocks cut and put together the frames for Frame Up day Labor on Day!

It All Started with A Keel

The keel for the new Pinky Ardelle. Photo by Dan Tobyne

Todd Harrington's foto of The launching of the Schooner Fame in 2003 in the same spot more or less.

The keel for the new schooner Pinky Ardelle is layed just about in the same spot as the schooner Fame keel once rested in 2003. The result was a beauty and here is a picture of Fame on launch day. In the not so distant future, this keel will turn into something that is clearly worth watching go up and by spring slide down the ways into the water...here's hoping!

Keel Is Cut for the Pinky Ardelle

The keel is taking shape and in a day or so the steel and oak will begin to look like the beginnings of a vessel. The process is fanastic to watch and when the keel laying ceremony takes place on Sept. 6, Labor Day, the community will be able to sign the steel keel or say good luck or etch some kind of imprint onto the steel while a ceremony takes place with Sen. Bruce Tarr and others saying a few words.  A long-standing tradition, the keel laying marks the ceremonial beginning of the ship's construction. Forming the backbone of a ship, the keel is the first part of the vessel to be constructed. The key part of the ceremony is the "Authentication of the Keel" which symbolizes the verification of the keel being 'truly and fairly laid' (see the section on lofting the lines).
Harold is pictured below cutting out what will become part of the keel for the new Schooner Pinky Ardelle. Thank you Dan Tobyne  for the photo. More to come on Dan's photography.

Charter the Pinky Maine - A Good Time to Be Had by All

Now offering charters aboard the Pinky schooner Maine out of Gloucester, MA. Families, students, artists and rusticators of all types can now charter the Pinky schooner Maine with Capt. Harold Burnham for parties of up to six people on half-day, whole-day and overnight trips or longer. The Maine is an authentic 1830s Pinky schooner replica built by apprentices in Bath, Maine in 1986 and was purchased by Burnham Boatbuilding in 2006. After undergoing minor alterations and repairs by Burnham, the Maine offers a unique perspective from which to view historic Gloucester harbor and the nearby coastline. Aboard the Maine, passengers can walk the decks of this ancient vessel type and learn about fishing from historic vessels, haul lobster traps under sail, and also sail with other schooners including the Thomas E. Lannon, the Lewis H. Story and the Fame - all built by Capt. Burnham.

On our whole-day trips, we like to include arriving and departing at different destinations including a stop for an ice cream cone or walk about a nearby coastal community, or even climbing the lighthouse towers on remote island preserves. On our overnight trips, we can often circumnavigate "around the world"- our world being Cape Ann or visit the Isle of Shoals and beyond. We do have fun!!

A Good Time of Year to Sail on the Pinky Maine

Perry Burnham took this picture from the Pinky Maine on Tuesday as the sun went down on one of the hottest days of the year. This is a great time of year to charter as friends start visiting from out of town. Check out Burnham Boatbuilding to get summer visitors out on the Maine. It's the coolest  place on Cape Ann!

Sawdust Under Sail Off Gloucester

Dick MacKinnon wrote to Harold recently and sent in this great picture of the Sawdust under sail and said to post the photo and comments. Thanks, Dick. Here is the story: Bob Porter and I were out sailing in Willow today and we encountered Sawdust, which we watched you launch from your shop. She is beautiful! Would you please forward this on to her owner and feel free to add it to your web site if you wish. Thanks for allowing us to watch the launch from your shop.  - Dick MacKinnon

Note: The Haverhill Gazette also did a nice story on Eric Borden and Burnham Boatbuilding in thier most recent issue last Thursday. Check it out! 

Sawdust Splashes in Picture Perfect Time

Eric Borden and his whole family were on hand to watch the yawl "Sawdust" hit the water around 6 p.m. on Saturday evening this past weekend. It was a beautiful sight to see and their late father Carroll N. Borden, who originally built but never actually sailed on the boat, would have been very proud. It was a lovely and emotional moment for the family when Eric's sister christened the boat with champagne and then off Sawdust went down the rails. The family, along with Harold, took the boat for a little river cruise as the sunset. They will have some absolutely awesome sailing days ahead. Congratulations!

Not Bad for A Week's Work

Harold and Ben Spivak have been working at a rapid-fire pace this past week (just another day in the boatyard for Harold) but he now has a much needed repair job near completion on Sara Beck's 1936-built Friendship Sloop the Flying Jib. Ben and Harold (and Kate & Sara, too!) have used one red oak log to complete a masterful job where they scarfed a new piece on to the after-end of the keel; replaced the stern post, replaced the after deadwood and they also added a new horn timber, added a new transom knee and are currently building a new rudder. As Ben commented just now," not bad for a week's work and all out of one red oak log." And, as Harold mentioned,  to paraphrase "I  did use red oak over white oak  [and yes, Harold is saving his coveted white oak for his new schooner to begin construction next month) but the Flying Jib was originally built with red oak over 70 years ago and will still have some good sailing days in her!" The Flying Jib is having its first major refit in some time and it is nice to see new life in this 74-year old boat.